Sea Rocket 18 - Studio Condo

The biggest problem for us was how dirty unit #18 was. We ended up wiping and washing the counters, dishes, utensils, glasses, fridge, and everything else we needed with the sanitizing wipes and paper towels we'd bought at Walmart. The pans were sticky, some plates and cutlery were dirty, the fridge drawer and shelf were dirty, and there was a moldy baking soda box in the fridge. The counters felt rough and clearly hadn't been wiped. Gum and candy wrappers were under the bed, and there was hair and pubic hair in the closet drawers. We skipped using those. The floor was so dirty that a towel came away filthy after we wiped up spilled water. There was soap scum in the tub and on the caddy, and a thick layer of dust on both fans. The smoke detector was unplugged and sitting on the fridge. The fridge and freezer doors also had frost hanging off them. I was worried about getting food poisoning, especially with the dirty dishes and surfaces. I don't know whether the owner has any say in choosing the cleaner, or whether the HOA requires a particular company. There are some useful things in the studio. The kitchen is a good size and fairly well stocked, with a full-size fridge, wine opener, newer pans and cooking utensils, dinnerware, a small dish soap, sponge, four kitchen towels, coffee filters, salt, pepper, cumin, and all-purpose seasoning. It has plenty of pillows, clean bedding, a small cooler, board games, a flashlight, hangers, an iron and ironing board, and lots of cleaning products. The loveseat folds out into a queen bed, and there are a shower curtain, four newer kitchen towels, and a newer queen loveseat. No dishwasher, which was okay. There was one paper towel roll and two rolls of toilet paper. The photos on VTripscom show a recliner that is no longer there, so don't count on it if you need one for an elderly person. The AC works great. The mattress would be nice if it weren't so worn out. It's soft, but uneven near the headboard, leaving your head and pillow lower than your body. After three nights my partner's back was killing them, so they slept on the couch without pulling it out for better support. I turned around and slept with my feet at the headboard to stay level. We figured people sit against the headboard to watch the TV above the couch, denting that side over time. The TV is on a pull-out arm, but it doesn't extend far enough to watch comfortably from the couch. The bathroom is cramped, with the toilet wedged between the wall and sink cabinet, and the toilet paper roll practically at the seat. Hot water is only warm, water pools in the tub at full shower pressure, and the tension shower rod often slides off the polished tile walls. The floor tiles are uneven in places, so it's easy to stub your toes. The small folding wood dining chairs aren't very comfortable for adults, though they're fine for a short stay or younger people. The unit could use beach towels, beach chairs, a first aid kit, and a dish drying rack since there's no dishwasher. There are lots of broken shells on the beach, too. We would rent here again, but in another unit, because of the bed and the nonexistent cleaning.

The location is hard to beat, right on the water and within walking distance of several places to eat and small markets. The property is gated, though I never saw the gates closed, even at night. It's secluded from public beach visitors. You get only a partial beach view from outside the unit doors and none from inside, but there are chairs by the doors and more at the end of the building for a full ocean view. The BBQ area has two built-in grills, four large tables, 24 chairs, and six loungers. Everything there is brand new except the grills. Each unit has an assigned parking spot, and there's a large dumpster on site. The stairs have fresh nonslip paint. Check-in is simple, with a door code emailed to you. For checkout, you leave by 10 a.m.; if you're leaving earlier, you have to notify them through an emailed portal link. I never saw anyone in the on-site office. The building feels its age, from the 1950s, and needs a lot of care. Paint is peeling in chunks, and there are cracks in the concrete and rust around the building and covered area. The HOA keeps painting over things, but the layers are caking up and coming off. Keep your shoes on. The second-floor slope is especially bad in front of units #19 and #20, where rainwater sits right by the entry doors. With almost $700 collected per unit, about $20,000 a month, you'd expect the HOA to be more useful. And the Wi-Fi is so bad I wouldn't plan on using it much.

We came with three other couples, each in a separate room, and none of our friends had any complaints. The rooms are cozy and small, mostly studio apartments, and ours had a comfortable bed but an uncomfortable couch. It's not the place to pick if you'll be spending lots of time indoors. There are plenty of Adirondack chairs and several tables outside, plus private beach access with a shower. We loved the location. It's simple, not fancy.

We got a great Airbnb deal on unit #14, a newly updated place owned by Sandy Beaches. It has a cute beach theme and comes with useful supplies like an umbrella, chairs, and books. There was even a new bag of ice waiting in the freezer. The bed was comfortable, though the couch doesn't pull out. No pool, but the beach is just steps away. The shower got nice and hot. We'd definitely come back.